Ambulatory navigation system

Abstract

The present invention provides a navigation system configured to direct a person to a selected destination using information from an information carrying member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method to navigate a person to a selected destination, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a person with an information carrying member including identification information related to the person;    storing a selected destination of the person corresponding to the identification information in a database;    providing a plurality of navigation stations at spaced apart locations;    detecting the identification information from the information carrying member at a selected one of the plurality of navigation stations;    determining the selected destination of the person corresponding to the detected identification information from the database; and    communicating instructions to the person to direct the person to one of another of the plurality navigation stations and the selected destination.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting step occurs automatically at the selected navigation station.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a core station configured to generate the information carrying member based on information related to the person including at least one of a person's name, a condition of the person, and a handicap of the person.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting step includes one of reading a magnetic stripe on the information carrying member, reading a bar code on the information carrying member, receiving a signal from the information carrying member, identifying a fingerprint, identifying a retina, and receiving a manual input from the person using the information carrying member.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communicating step includes at least one of printing the instructions, displaying the instructions, and announcing the instructions.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of monitoring a location of the person.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of storing the location of the person in the database.  
     
     
         8 . A navigation system configured to direct a person to a selected destination, the system comprising: 
 a badge configured to transmit a signal including identification information related to the person;    a database configured to store a selected destination for the person corresponding to the identification information;    a receiver configured to receive the signal from the badge and detect the identification information;    a processor coupled to the receiver; and    a communication member coupled to the processor, the processor being configured to determine the selected destination for the person from the database based on the identification information received from the badge, to determine instructions to direct the person toward the selected destination, and to communicate the instructions to the person using the communication member.    
     
     
         9 . The navigation system of  claim 8 , further comprising a locating and tracking system configured to receive the signal from the badge to monitor a location of the person within a facility.  
     
     
         10 . The navigation system of  claim 9 , further comprising means for transmitting an indicator signal to the badge if the locating and tracking system determines that the person is not following the instructions to the selected destination.  
     
     
         11 . The navigation system of  claim 8 , wherein the badge signal is one of an infrared signal, a radio frequency signal, and an ultrasonic signal.  
     
     
         12 . The navigation system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to access the database to determine the instructions to the selected destination.  
     
     
         13 . The navigation system of  claim 8 , wherein the badge includes a receiver and at least one of a display and a speaker.  
     
     
         14 . A navigation system configured to direct a person to a selected destination using an information carrying member including identification information related to the person, the system comprising: 
 a database configured to store a selected destination corresponding to the identification information;    an input device configured to receive the identification information from the information carrying member;    a processor coupled to the input device; and    a communication member coupled to the processor, the processor being configured to determine the selected destination from the database based on the identification information received by the input device, to determine instructions to direct the person toward the selected destination, and to communicate the instructions to the person using the communication member.    
     
     
         15 . The navigation system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor also determines the instructions to direct the person from the second station toward the selected destination from the database.  
     
     
         16 . The navigation system of  claim 14 , wherein the communication member includes at least one of a display, a speaker, and a printer.  
     
     
         17 . The navigation system of  claim 14 , wherein a plurality of input devices are located at spaced apart locations, each input device being configured to identify the identification information from the information carrying member and to provide instructions on the communication member to direct the person to one of another input device and the selected destination.  
     
     
         18 . The navigation system of  claim 14 , wherein the information carrying member is a badge configured to transmit a signal including the identification information related to the person, and the input device is a receiver to receive the signal from the badge and detect the identification information from the signal.  
     
     
         19 . The navigation system of  claim 18 , further comprising a locating and tracking system configured to receive the signal from the badge to monitor a location of the person within a facility.  
     
     
         20 . The navigation system of  claim 19 , further comprising means for transmitting an indicator signal to the badge if the locating and tracking system determines that the person is not following the instructions to the selected destination.  
     
     
         21 . The navigation system of  claim 14 , wherein the input device is one of a magnetic stripe decoder, a bar code reader, a signal receiver, a fingerprint detector, a retinal scanner, and a manual input.